Windshield scrubber

ABSTRACT

A device including a casing housing an air-driven rotary brush that partially projects through an opening in the casing and a resilient skirt surrounding the opening and capable of serving as a squeegee. The casing is provided with a trap chamber adjacent the brush and with a pivoted closure shoe normally closing an opening to the trap chamber but adapted to pivot to open position to deflect liquid and other residue resulting from a cleaning operation from the brush into the chamber.

United States Patent Inventor Robert N. Fab-es 565 North Elqreth Way,Covina, Calif. 91722 Appl No. 831,458 Filed June 9, 1969 Patented Aug.17, 1971 WINDSHIELD SCRUBBER 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

11.8. C1 15/24, 15/103 Int. Cl A461) 13/04 Field 01 Search 15/23, 24,28, 29, 49, 49 C. 50, 50 C, 98, 344

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,059,136 4/1913 Gafney15/24 U 1,927,186 9/1933 Raaen l5/5OC 2,719,994 10/1955 Dorsey 15/243,293,678 12/1966 South 15/29 Primary Examiner- Edward L. RobertsAnorneyWhann & McManigal WINDSHIELD SCRUBBER The invention relatesgenerally to devices that employ a power-driven brush for cleaningsurfaces and more particularly to such devices as are designed for usein cleaning glass, particularly windows and automobile Windshields.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel device embodying apower-driven rotary brush with means for controlling the power sourcetogether with means for feeding a cleaning solution to the brush at thewill of the operator.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated in which thebush-is substantially surrounded by the casing of the device except foran opening therein through which the brush is exposed and in which aresilient skirt is mounted on the casing surrounding such opening andcan be used as a squeegee.

A further object is to provide a device of the type indicated having arotary brush mounted in a casing in which novel means is provided forremoving dirt and residue cleaning solution from the brush andentrapping such material. In this connection it is an object to providea device having a casing with a brush chamber and adjacent thereto atrap chamber with an opening between the two, together with novel meansfor closing the opening which serves, when opened, as a means fordeflecting the material to be trapped from the brush into the trapchamber.

Another object is to provide a relatively simple device which is easy touse.

By way of summary, the invention includes. a casing provided with arotary brush adapted to be driven by a supply of air under pressure froma remote source and valve means for controlling this with the brushbeing exposed through an opening in the casing and that opening beingsurrounded by a stiffly resilient skirt which may serve as a squeegeemember, together with means for feeding a cleaning solution to the brushunder the control of an operator, and a trap chamber and means forremoving the excess cleaning solution and residue from the brush andentrapping it in the chamber.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and thefollowing description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing the use of the invention inconnection with the cleaning of an automobile windshield;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 3 is an inverted plan view, partly broken away, but on a largerscale;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the closure shoe in adifferent position; and

FIG. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

More particularly describing the invention, reference numeral lldesignates a device embodying the invention shown in FIG. I in positionagainst the windshield I2 of an automobile 13. It is contemplated thatthe device be supplied with air under pressure and with a cleaningsolution from a remote source through hoses l4 and 15, respectively,extending from an overhead support. By way of example, a mast I6 isshown supporting a container 17 of solution and housing an air supplyconduit (not shown). The hoses are preferably of the self-coiling type.

The device includes a casing 18 which has a tubular handle portion 19, aflattened diverging intermediate portion 20, and a brushcompartment-defining section 21 in which a brush 22 is rotatably mountedon a shaft 23. The latter is in turn mounted in the end walls 24 and 25of the section 21. The brush is provided with an impeller 27 at one sothat it can be rotated by an airstream issuing from the nozzle 28 of anair supply tube 30 extending through wall 31 and controlled by a valve32. The latter has a valve-operating stem 33 extending exteriorly of thecasing and provided with a head 33' so that it can be readily operatedwith the thumb or finger. The hose 14 is attached to a fitting 34 at theend of the handle of the device. Valve 30 is of the type which isnormally closed and can be opened by depressing the stern.

V A cleaning solution supply tube 35 extends through wall 31 into theregion of the brush and this is provided with a valve 36 similar tovalve 32, with a valve stem 37 and head 37'. At its outer end the tubeis connected with hose 15 through a fitting 37. I

A feature of the invention is the provision around the opening 40 of thecasing through which the brush projects of a stifily resilient skirt 41that may be made of rubber, plastic or other suitable rubberlikematerial. This skirt serves to retain dirt and liquid solution withinthe confines of the skirt when the brush is rotating during the initialcleaning of the glass. As will later appear, this skirt is designed tobe used as a squeegee to remove liquid and loosened dirt from a glasssurface.

The casing is formed to provide a trap or trap chamber 44 and this hasan opening 45 to the exterior and a lid 46 therefor which is pivotallymounted at 47. This closure is maintained closed normally by means of aresilient sponge 48 within the chamber which, as will later appear,serves to soak up liquid entering the trap chamber. Preferably the lidis provided with a plurality of small openings 49.

The trap chamber is also provided with an opening 50 adjacent oropposite the periphery of the brush and this is normally closed by apivotally mounted closure shoe 51 that is shown fixed to a shaft 52joumaled in the casing. The shoe is yieldably'held in closed position bya compression spring 53 on a control rod 54, the latter beingsupportedfor axial movement in a guide 55 on the housing and pivotallyconnected at its forward end to a rigid arm 56 on the outer end of shaft52. The spring is mounted on the rod between the guide and a bent endsection 54' of the rod. By pushing the rod forward the shoe is rotatedto the position shown in FIG. 5 and thus when the brush is rotating thisserves to remove the dirt and liquid from the brush and deflect it intothe trap chamber.

It will be apparent that the device is designed to be held and operatedwith one hand. The handle 19 is held so that the thumb and index fingerare free to operate the valves 32 and 36, respectively. In a cleaningoperation, a cleaning solution is metered to the brush through tube 35and the brush rotated by supplying air under pressure through tube 30and nozzle 28. The device is held as shown in FIG. 5 so that the skirt41 contacts the surface'of the glass or windshield to be cleaned and thedevice moved over the surface repeatedly as required to loosen the dirttherefrom. The cleaning fluid having been shut off, the device is thenpulled with the device tilted so as to raise the leading portion of theskirt above the glass whereby the trailing portion acts as a squeegee.At the same time, rod 54 is pushed depressing the closure shoe to theposition of FIG. 5 so that cleaning fluid, residue, and dirt isdeflected from the brush (which rotates clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 4and 5) into the trap chamber 44 to be caught in the sponge 48. When thesponge becomes unduly soaked, the liquid can be expelled therefrom byinverting the device and pushing the lid 46 in to compress the sponge,the holes 49 in the lid permitting escape of the liquid and residue fromthe sponge. The holes also ,serve to allow escape of air from thechamber when residue is entering the chamber.

Iclaim: I

1. A windshield scrubber, comprising a casing providing a handleportion, a brush compartment open at the side to the exterior, and atrap chamber adjacent the brush compartment, said casing having anopening between the brush compartment and the trap chamber adjacent theinner portion of the compartment, openable means normally closing saidopening, a rotary brush having an impeller rotatably mounted in saidcompartment and with a peripheral portion projecting through said openside, and valved tube means extending through said handle portion intosaid compartment for conducting air under pressure to said impeller.

2. The scrubber set forth in claim 1 in which said casing in providedwith a stifi'ly resilient skirt surrounding the open side of the brushcompartment.

3. The scrubber set forth in claim 1 in which a second valved tube meansextends through said handle portion of the casing and into said brushcompartment for delivering cleaning liquid to the brush.

4. The scrubber set forth in claim 2 in which the means normally closingthe opening to said trap chamber comprises a pivotally mounted closuremember swingable to an open position wherein its free edge is againstthe periphery of the brush, an operating member connected to the closuremember and spring means urging the operating member in a direction toclose said closure member.

5. A windshield scrubber, comprising a casing providing a handleportion, a brush compartment at one end thereof open at the side to theexterior, and a trap chamber adjacent the brush compartment with anopening therebetween, a pivotally mounted closure shoe adapted to closesaid opening, a rotary brush having an impeller rotatably mounted insaid compartment with a peripheral portion projecting through the openside, a stiffly resilient skirt mounted on the casing around the openside and encircling the projecting portion of the brush, a valved tubemounted in said casing for delivering air under pressure supplied to itto the brush impeller to thereby rotate the brush, and operating rodmeans carried by said casing normally holding said closure shoe inposition to close said opening to said trap chamber and movable to pivotsaid closure shoe to open position.

casing providing an opening between said compartment and said chamber,means for closing said opening, said casing having an outer openingbetween the trap chamber and the exterior, an inwardly pivotable closuremember for said outer opening, and a spongelike member in said trapchamber yieldably holding the closure member closed.

7. A windshield scrubber comprising:

a. a casing having a brush compartment open at the side;

b. a rotary brush mounted for rotation in said brush compartment andhaving a portion of its periphery extending through the open side; I

0. means to effect rotation of the brush;

d. a stiifly resilient skirt on said casing surrounding said open sideof said brush compartment, the edge of the skirt terminating in a plane;

. a valved tube means in said casing for delivering liquid to saidbrush;

. a trap chamber housed within said casing adjacent said brushcompartment with an opening thereto adjacent the periphery of saidbrush;

g. a closure for said opening; and

h. means for opening said closure.

8. The scrubber set forth in claim 7 in which said closure is pivotallymounted and so constructed and arranged that when swung open it acts asa show against said brush to deflect dirt and liquid therefrom into saidtrap chamber.

1. A windshield scrubber, comprising a casing providing a handleportion, a brush compartment open at the side to the exterior, and atrap chamber adjacent the brush compartment, said casing having anopening between the brush compartment and the trap chamber adjacent theinner portion of the compartment, openable means normally closing saidopening, a rotary brush having an impeller rotatably mounted in saidcompartment and with a peripheral portion projecting through said openside, and valved tube means extending through said handle portion intosaid compartment for conducting air under pressure to said impeller. 2.The scrubber set forth in claim 1 in which said casing in provided witha stiffly resilient skirt surrounding the open side of the brushcompartment.
 3. The scrubber set forth in claim 1 in which a secondvalved tube means extends through said handle portion of the casing andinto said brush compartment for delivering cleaning liquid to the brush.4. The scrubber set forth in claim 2 in which the means normally closingthe opening to said trap chamber comprises a pivotally mounted closuremember swingable to an open position wherein its free edge is againstthe periphery of the brush, an operating member connected to the closuremember and spring means urging the operating member in a direction toclose said closure member.
 5. A windshield scrubber, comprising a casingproviding a handle portion, a brush compartment at one end thereof openat the side to the exterior, and a trap chamber adjacent the brushcompartment with an opening therebetween, a pivotally mounted closureshoe adapted to close said opening, a rotary brush having an impellerrotatably mounted in said compartment with a peripheral portionprojecting through the open side, a stiffly resilient skirt mounted onthe casing around the open side and encircling the projecting portion ofthe brush, a valved tube mounted in said casing for delivering air underpressure supplied to it to the brush impeller to thereby rotate thebrush, and operating rod means carried by said casing normally holdingsaid closure shoe in position to close said opening to said trap chamberand movable to pivot said closure shoe to open position.
 6. A windshieldscrubber, comprising a casing providing a handle, a brush compartmentand a trap chamber adjacent said compartment, a rotary brush in saidcompartment, said casing providing an opening between said compartmentand said chamber, means for closing said opening, said casing having anouter opening between the trap chamber and the exterior, an inwardlypivotable closure member for said outer opening, and a spongelike memberin said trap chamber yieldably holding the closure member closed.
 7. Awindshield scrubber comprising: a. a casing having a brush compartmentopen at the side; b. a rotary brush mounted for rotation in said brushcompartment and having a portion of its periphery extending through theopen side; c. means to effect rotation of the brush; d. a stifflyresilient skirt on said casing surrounding said open side of said brushcompartment, the edge of the skirt terminating in a plane; e. a valvedtube means in said casing for delivering liquid to said brush; f. a trapchamber housed within said casing adjacent said brush compartment withan opening thereto adjacent the periphery of said brush; g. a closurefor said opening; and h. means for opening said closure.
 8. The scrubberset forth in claim 7 in which said closure is pivotally mounted and soconstructed and arranged that when swung open it acts as a show againstsaid brush to deflect dirt and liquid therefrom into said trap chamber.